European Historical Memory: Policies, Challenges and Perspectives

Original publication: 2nd revised edition, April 2015
Authors: Markus J. Prutsch, Research Administrator
Short link to this post: http://bit.ly/2GbTrHU
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This note seeks to provide some critical reflections on the challenges, current policies and possible future prospects of ‘historical memory’ in a European context, yet without laying claim to attempting to put forward an exhaustive examination of the issue. The text comprises the following constitutive parts:

1) an introduction, briefly outlining the characteristics and intricacies of the concepts of ‘historical memory’ and ‘remembrance’;
2) an outline of the particular challenges involved in establishing forms of pan-European historical memory, and a presentation of current European Union practices;
3) an exploration of how future European memory policies might be developed in view of existing shortcomings, with particular emphasis being given to educational measures;
and
4) a series of concluding recommendations.

‘Historical memory’ is widely considered to be a specific form of collective memory in scholarly literature and as such to be distinguished from individual practices of remembering the past. In that it helps to capture and arrange the past, historical memory serves above all the function of community building, especially in the context of rapid changes in society, politics, economy and culture. Yet while it is being geared towards the past and providing a collective view as well as the ‘sense’ of the same is acknowledged to be a characteristic element, the concept proves to be elusive and suggests a number of challenges. Most importantly, historical memory is not necessarily about reflecting ‘historical realities’, but instead incorporates a distinct degree of subjectivity, given that the choice of how to remember the past necessarily involves value judgements. Accordingly, historical memory can potentially play a functional role, which exposes it not only to the politics of memory, but also to the danger of it becoming a tool for a deliberate misinterpretation or falsification of history.

2. European Historical Remembrance: Challenges and Current Practices

Traditionally, collective historical memory has developed in conjunction with individual state- or nation-building processes. Three elements have emerged as being characteristic in this regard:

I) there is a largely positive correlation between historical memory and nation (building) in that certain moments in a nation’s past are perceived as positive landmarks, or, less frequently, in that certain negative or even traumatic experiences of the past serve as a contrast to or justification for the present;

II) historical memory is geared towards specific events in the past rather than ‘history’ as such, thus allowing for a better accessibility of historical developments for a wider public, but also ‘essentialising’ and simplifying the complexities of national histories; in connection with this,

III) historical memory tends to elevate national history and create myths about it, thus turning a nation’s past into a sacred object.

However, not even at national level is historical memory-building an easy task, given the persistence of manifold cultural, social or educational divisions that are often only covered by the language of ‘one nation (state)’. In a supranational context, the perception of the past proves all the more heterogeneous and problems for having a collective memory or even defining common historical landmarks are multiplied.

European policies have nevertheless made an effort to foster a ‘European historical memory’ in order to add legitimacy to the European project and foster European identity. While traditional reference points had been European ‘heritage’ in a broad sense of the word, the Second World War as the trigger for European integration, and the achievements of integration per se, a new and more concrete focus has powerfully emerged over recent years, which puts the remembrance of 20th-century totalitarianism – notably National Socialism and Stalinism – in its centre. Preceded by initiatives since the 1990s, especially of the European Parliament, to increase awareness for the Holocaust and – since the Eastern Enlargement – also Stalinist crimes, efforts to keep history alive are supported in particular by the Europe for Citizens Programme launched in 2006. The emphasis of European historical remembrance on totalitarianism is perpetuated in the on-going negotiations for a renewed Europe for Citizens Programme 2014-2020, in which the remembrance strand has taken on greater significance, reflected in the considerable increase of funds that have been earmarked for actions in this field.

3. Developing Future European Memory Policies

Upon closer inspection, what might appear to be one coherent EU Memory Policy proves to be far from uncontested. Rather, there is still a palpable competition between two partly competing memory frames: the ‘uniqueness of the Holocaust’, that has shaped Western European post-war culture, and the ‘National Socialism and Stalinism as equally evil’, that suits the needs of Eastern European nations to come to terms with their respective communist past. These differences are a reminder of the difficulties in settling diverging interpretations of the past, not only across the political spectrum but also between different Member States.

At the same time, concentrating European efforts for transnational historical remembrance on the Holocaust and National Socialism as well as Stalinism proves problematic in two respects. Firstly, such an approach fosters a biased black-and-white scheme of history that makes Europe’s ‘dark past’ appear as the logical alternative to its ‘bright present’. Such a teleological and at the same time simplistic view not only does injustice to the richness as well as complex nature of European history, and leaves out other crucial issues such as colonialism, but also hampers a better informed understanding of the European integration process. Secondly, narrowing historical memory to National Socialism and Stalinism, which are elevated to a negative foundation myth, reduces incentives at critically examining stereotypes and sacred cows of one’s own national history.

Accordingly, a critical ‘European culture of remembering’ rather than an imposed singular ‘remembrance culture’, with standardised views on and reference points of Europe’s past, is argued for. This requires capacities for a critical ‘reworking the past’ at national levels to be generated, based on common European principles and values. Key requirements of the envisaged ‘culture of remembering’ include:

approaching Europe’s past on the foundation of European core values, such as humanism, tolerance and democracy;

creating an open sphere of discussion that provides for mutual understanding and reconciliation both within and between European nations;

addressing uncomfortable segments of national histories;

basing judgements of the past exclusively on the examination of historical facts, while renouncing the notion of ‘historical truth’; and

acknowledging the potential risks in legislating for a specific view on or memory of the past.

Such an approach would seem to do justice to the multiplicity of existing historical memories in Europe, while at the same time providing an incentive to scrutinise them through a shared transnational approach.

A particularly important role for such a ‘culture of remembering’ to develop is ascribed to education policies in Europe, which are required to:

raise awareness for European diversity both in the past and present;

entrust teachers and students with the means required to address their own countries’ history objectively and in broader (trans-)European contexts; and thus

encourage young Europeans to become actively involved in discussing history and contribute to an informed historical memory.

To achieve this aim, priority needs to be given to:

I) adapting existing curricula and didactics by moving attention away from national to European and global approaches to history, and allowing young Europeans to form self-critical historical awareness through open and discursive teaching formats; and

While the European Union cannot do a ‘reworking of the past’ for the Member States, it is certainly in a position to actively promote and support national efforts in this regard. For that purpose, the European Union cannot only make use of ‘soft power’ to push Member States into taking action, but should also fall back on existing European programmes. These include the Europe for Citizens Programme, through which multinational history and remembrance projects can be funded, as well as the Erasmus Programme, which provides support for transnational exchange programmes and study visits both for students and staff. Nothing speaks against expanding these Programmes in the future, or perhaps complementing them with other European action.

4. Recommendations and Conclusions

The findings of this note are condensed in seven concrete suggestions:

1) Recognition of historical memory as an elusive concept;
2) Awareness-raising of the difficulties of trans-European historical memory;
3) Acknowledgement of the EU’s achievements in raising awareness of the past;
4) Consideration of the shortcomings of current EU memory policies;
5) Development of a European ‘culture of remembering’;
6) Acknowledgement of the central role of education; and
7) Making utmost use of European means to support national policies.

Original publication: July 2019 Authors: José Manuel VASSALLO, Laura GARRIDO. Short link to this post: http://bit.ly/2lHo8Mc Available languages: Summary The study provides recommendations for improving the future effectiveness of European Union (EU) funding instruments that Read more…

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